Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
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The lovers were told that:
... they should come with the sole idea of enjoying Baba's presence collectively, and NOT hope or want to ask for any individual personal attention or guidance from him regarding any matter concerning themselves, or their families and friends, or in connection with Baba work or group and center activities. No question should be asked, spiritual or otherwise.
Baba says that this November gathering will be uniquely different from any of the past sahavases or darshans, and he therefore stresses that any expectations other than just being in his presence would be an intrusion into the atmosphere that Baba desires, and would cause the person thus intruding to lose the real benefit of being in Baba's presence.
Kitty Davy also noted the uniqueness of this gathering in a letter to Vivian Agostini (dated 15 September 1962):
You are to be one of the group flying East so soon now to Baba. This is a decision which I know you will never regret — an opportunity whose magnitude our finite minds cannot grasp.
Do you realize that this is the first time in the 30 years since I came to Baba that "all" have been called who love Baba. Baba has from the very beginning said his mission was to bring East and West together, and for this reason a handful [of us] went East in 1933.
So I do feel most strongly that this "call" so near to the completion of Baba's mission on this Earth at this cycle of time has great importance to Baba in this work, and by going when "called" we are helping in this work. Of greatest significance perhaps is that only those who love Baba, it would seem, can help, for others have not been called at this moment in time.
Great indeed is our privilege and great indeed is our responsibility.
Meherjee Mama Satha had recently undergone a hernia operation at Booth Hospital and Baba went to see him there on 23 September. He then came to Khushru Quarters. In Meherazad that day at a meeting of the trustees of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust (which Baba did not attend), Sarosh was made a trustee in Vishnu's place.
On the 25th Joseph Harb suffered a heart attack in Poona and was hospitalized. Bhau was sent to Meherabad on the 26th for a few days.
On Sunday, 30 September 1962, the One who is Love Personified explained about each one in creation being "ignorance personified," and dictated another message on this theme.
On 2 October, he dictated a short message for the East-West program: "No one dies, no one is born. The only fortunate rare one who does die dies the real death and takes birth in God."
Preparations to leave for Poona at the end of October continued at a heightened pace, as time for the gathering drew near. Something new would crop up daily demanding Baba's full attention and instructions. Sarosh and Jalbhai came on the 2nd, and from that day Feram was kept at Meherazad to assist with the increased amount of typing. On 7 October, Meherjee, Ramakrishnan, Sadashiv Patil, Shinde and Madhusudan were called from Poona, Nariman and Jim were called from Bombay, and Adi, Sarosh and Chhagan were called from Ahmednagar, to finalize a few matters for the gathering. Meherjee came again on the 14th for the same purpose.
In addition to the increased amount of darshan-related work, Baba's health continued to be poor at this time. He began suffering very severe jerks and muscle spasms. While he was resting, when Baba had a violent spasm, his whole body would rise off the bed. He had a fever and did not seem to respond to any treatment. But he refused to allow Goher to consult outside doctors, and with all the preparations to go to Poona, she had no time to read up on the problems.